This year, SACICT is organising ASEAN Selection 2016 under the theme “Innovative Craft Textiles in ASEAN”, which selects 10 outstanding textile and fashion designers from ASEAN countries.

Hạnh, from the Central Highlands province of Buon Me Thuot, was nominated to SACICT in addition to seven other Vietnamese artisans and designers.

They were selected by the Museum of Cultures of Vietnam’s Ethnic Groups, located in the northern province of Thai Nguyen, at the request of SACICT.

Trendy and traditional: Fashion designer Minh Hạnh wears a design she made. She has incorporated the beauty of Vietnamese brocade fabric into her designs

The other artists include: the northern province of Cao Bang’s Nong Thi Thuoc, the central province of Nghe An’s Sam Tho Bich, Hanoi’s Le Thi Lan Huong, the northern province of Ha Giang’s Vang Thi Mai, the southern province of Ninh Thuan’s Lam Nu Minh, and the central province of Quang Nam’s Vo Hoang Ha Uyen.

“I’m joyous because I represent Vietnam and have been selected by the award organisation,” said Hanh. “This honour will give me more chances to showcase Vietnamese characteristics at an event gathering outstanding artisans and designers of ASEAN countries. It is important.”

Hanh received a direct call from organisers in Bangkok and a request from the Vietnamese museum to send her profile to them, but she did not know much about the purpose and significance of the award.

She received a congratulatory letter from organisers along with a list of other selected artisans. When she saw the list of the top ASEAN artisans, she understood more about the award’s value, which is described as highly prestigious by Thailans’s Queen Sirikit.

Hạnh will display her works at the ASEAN Selection 2016 exhibition from August 15 to 20 at Museum Siam Bangkok, and will also attend the ASEAN Selection 2016 Award Ceremony. The award will be presented by Thailand’s Minister of Commere.

SACICT was established to promote and support the creation of Thai arts and crafts, as well as to promote their marketing both domestically and abroad.

The selection process was held on June 10 at Siam Kempinski Hotel. The works were selected by experts and distinguished persons in textile and fashion design in Thailand and Japan.

Born in 1961, Hanh is the founder of Vietnam Fashion Week, a professional biannual event in Vietnam. She is one of Vietnam’s leading designers and is globally known for pioneering designs honouring the beauty of Vietnamese brocade fabric made by ethnic groups in the northwestern and Central Highlands areas.

Her collections have been shown at many fashion shows around the world. She was awarded the French title Chevalier of Culture and Art and has won many international prizes, including New Designer at Asia Collection Makuhari in Japan in 1997 and the Japanese Fukuoka Prize for Arts and Culture 2015.